The Welsh Language Commissioner (Appointment) Regulations 2011

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (“the Measure”) creates the office of Welsh Language Commissioner (“the Commissioner”). Section 2 of the Measure provides that the Commissioner is appointed by the First Minister.

In appointing the Commissioner, the First Minister is under a duty to comply with regulations that make provision about the appointment (referred to in the Measure as “appointment regulations”).

Paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 1 to the Measure imposes a duty upon the Welsh Ministers to make appointment regulations.

Paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 1 to the Measure provides that appointment regulations must make provision about the establishment of a panel of persons who are to interview candidates for appointment as Commissioner and make recommendations to the First Minister in relation to that appointment (referred to in the Measure as a “selection panel”).

Paragraphs 7(3) to (6) of Schedule 1 to the Measure provide that appointment regulations may make provision about the principles to be followed in appointing the Commissioner and the knowledge of, and proficiency in, the Welsh language of the Commissioner, amongst other matters.

The Welsh Ministers make these regulations to comply with their duty to make appointment regulations. These regulations make provision about convening a selection panel and its membership. These regulations also make provision about the principles to be followed by the First Minister in appointing the Commissioner and the Welsh language knowledge and proficiency that a person appointed as Commissioner must have.

Regulation 2 imposes a duty upon the Welsh Ministers to convene a selection panel when requested by the First Minister to do so. A selection panel established for appointing the Commissioner will include a member of staff of the Welsh Assembly Government (known as “the Welsh Government”); an independent assessor; a person with experience of the promotion of the use of Welsh and/or another language; and an Assembly Member nominated by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales. In the event that a committee declines or fails to make a nomination, regulation 2 permits the Welsh Ministers to convene a section panel which does not include an Assembly Member.

Regulation 3 prevents a person who holds or has held the post of Commissioner or Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner from sitting on a selection panel.

Regulation 4 imposes a duty upon the First Minister, in appointing the Commissioner, to follow the principles of ministerial responsibility; merit; independent scrutiny; equal opportunities; probity; openness and transparency; and proportionality taking into account the description of those principles set out in the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies of August 2009. A copy of the Code of Practice of August 2009 can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments' website: www.publicappointmentscommissioner.org/

Regulation 5 makes provision in relation to the knowledge of, and proficiency in, the Welsh language that a person appointed as Commissioner must have.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment for these regulations has been prepared and a copy can be obtained from the Welsh Language Unit, Department for Education and Skills, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.